Foster crowned Lancs seniors’ champion

TREVOR Foster clocked up a new milestone in his distinguished golfing career by claiming his first Lancashire county seniors’ championship title.

The Accrington player finished two-shots ahead of a strong field which assembled at Ashton-in-Makerfield GC for the two-day 36-hole competition.

Competitors were greeted by gusting winds on day one before calmer conditions for the second round saw Foster (pictured)emerge with a three over par aggregate of 145 after returning scores of 73,72.

And Foster could not be prouder to be crowned the winner against a strong field containing international senior players and colleagues from the Lancashire county seniors team which are the reigning England county champions.

“There is no better feeling than pulling on that Lancashire shirt and representing your county,” he said. “If you cut me in half I think you would find a red rose inside!

“This is an extremely proud moment to win this title and especially with so many good players – and friends – in the field.”

The 57-year-old is among a select group who have played for Lancashire more than 100 times, having represented the county 108 times between 1986 and 2003, but he stepped down to support daughter Nikki, who went on to become an England international and played in the Ladies’ British Open.

Foster played in the 1988 Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes – and got his name to the top of the leaderboard at one point on the first day – one of the highlights of a career during which he also won the Lancashire county title in 1987 and 1990.

He is now relishing his return to competitive action among the senior ranks.

Reflecting on his winning rounds, Foster admitted: “It was tough out there, especially on day one when it was just a case of grinding out the pars and not making too many mistakes.

“I got a bit greedy on the final green at the end of the first round and ended up three putting, but I learnt from that and stayed much more patient second time round.

“Given the conditions, the scores did not come down as low as they might in the final round, but there is that bit more pressure on you and everyone is trying to get over the line.

“The seniors’ golf has been a fantastic thing to become involved with and the Lancashire Union is doing a great job in supporting us.”

And Foster, a greenkeeper for 22 years, took time out to praise the work of the staff at Ashton-in-Makerfield for the quality of the championship course.

Runner-up was Dave Simpson, from Lytham Green Drive GC, who added a 74 to his first day 73 for a 147 total.

Third was Clitheroe’s Tony Holt, winner of the championships for the past three years, who had rounds of 72,75.